My Kid Ate a Donut, and It’s a HUGE Deal

0

Disclaimer: This post does not provide medical advice. Please always speak with a medical professional about concerns, including those about food allergy treatment. 

[easy-image-collage id=29696]

What do you see when you look at these photos? Just a kid in a donut shop and a plate of ravioli? What’s the big deal? Looks like a bunch of junk toddler food, no?

The big deal is that these were two of the first “normal” meals/foods my child has been able to eat.

With food allergies, we couldn’t just order dinner or stop by somewhere like Dunks. Doing so could result in a life-threatening reaction. Cross contact was always a concern. So were hidden allergens (really….there is currently no requirement for companies to disclose ingredients if they are subcomponents of an ingredient like flavors, oils, spices, etc. unless the item is a Top 8 allergen).

But a year and a half ago, we started treatment for my child’s allergies. And, finally, after diligently keeping our strict treatment schedule, driving into the city regularly from Central Westchester, and a few hiccups, we are approaching the end. 

After the allergy treatment, his current allergen dosage, my child can tolerate cross contact or accidental exposure. And that means a heck of a lot more freedom in what (and where) he eats.


What is Oral Immunotherapy?

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is the process of treating food allergies by slowly desensitizing patients to their allergen by “feeding an allergic individual an increasing amount of an allergen with the goal of increasing the threshold that triggers a reaction.” This process can be risky, and must be done under strict medical supervision.

You should never attempt OIT from home, or without medical supervision. 

You can learn more about OIT here.


On our first night of freedom, we ordered dinner from our favorite pizza place. My little one tried ravioli for the first time. The next day he had his first donut. Ever. He is 3 years old. Baked goods are notoriously dangerous for both sesame and tree nut allergies. Thanks to treatment, my child can finally enjoy them (no more baking birthday cakes unless I want to!).

Enjoying his first donut.

We have since tried ice cream from two of our favorite ice cream stands, pizza from a few favorite pizza spots, burgers WITH THE BUN (obviously one without sesame seeds on top), French fries…all sorts of things most families take for granted having their kids eat, or maybe even judge other parents for feeding their kids. (By the way, next time you look down your nose at a mom for feeding her kid what you deem to be junk, think of my family. You never know the life someone else lives. Stop judging other moms).

Enjoying ice cream at a local shop.

We still have so many new foods to try! So much celebrating to get in! We can finally initiate the newest member of our foodie family (we own a restaurant, and my hubby is a classically trained French chef), and it feels like there are no limits.

I’m in disbelief. I’m so, so grateful. This isn’t a cure, of course, and my child still can’t freely eat his allergens. But that is about all he can’t eat.

My child gets to live a safer and more typical life. Outings with friends, movies, birthday parties, dates, vacations to places with limited food options without having to haul in a week’s worth of groceries…they all are suddenly possible, and without my child having to jump through numerous hoops or take numerous risks. His future looks a heck of a lot brighter, and I couldn’t be happier.

I understand treatment isn’t an option for all families. I even feel a bit of survivor’s guilt in having so much freedom; both my son and I have food allergies, but we now have very few limits because of desensitization. But I also know food allergy treatment continues to emerge and become more widespread. As they do, I hope this will become a reality for other food allergy families. Because every food allergy patient deserves to live safer and healthier lives. 

Previous articleStaycation Ideas in and Around Westchester
Next articleFrom Suburbs to City and Back Again: Meet Christine
Erin
Erin is the mother of one sweet, rambunctious toddler and wife to a talented chef. Professionally, she is a former special educator and preschool teacher, and is currently a cognitive neuroscience researcher and Ph.D candidate in Cognitive Science in Education with specializations in neuroscience, cognitive development, and neurodiversity/autism. She holds masters degrees in cognitive science, and neuroscience in education, from Teachers College, Columbia University, and undergraduate degrees in special education (with an additional concentration in elementary education and a minor in English) and early childhood education. As the wife of a chef, food is a huge part of her family culture, and she enjoy both cooking and baking. Some of her other hobbies include hiking, traveling, jogging, meditation, animal rescue, playing piano and guitar, crafting, reading, and of course, writing. You can follow her parenting journey and pick up tips on great kids activities here on Westchester Moms Blog, as well as her website (www.themindfullyscientificmama.com), Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest accounts.